Thank You for the Amazing donations!!!

lwrn2 said:

Curious about this too! On other sites I am on, the people who run it will let us know when it's time to contribute for annual maintenance etc. People chip in what they can, and it seems to work well.

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We've estimated costs of moving to a good, dedicated server and unless an exorbitant amount of money is able to be raised every year, it doesn't look very feasible. The banners and links on the site generate barely enough to keep the site self-sustaining on what little revenue that _is_ generated via these methods, and currently our server costs are very miniscule compared to what we'd need to move to a dedicated server (think 15-20x as much as they are currently).

We're trying to see what other options are available to get the site stable since we've grown exponentially since the beginning back in 2010, but with the amount of traffic we have now, the options are getting limited :sad:

While it looks like the mods/admins aren't around (we dont post as much in the public forums), we do work "behind the scenes" through PM's and mod/admin-only forums trying to sort out the multitude of trade issues everyone has been having lately. I can relate to the frustration with delays in reply or site access, because when even _we_ can't get to the site, it means we cant fix anything or help anyone out. With regard to the moderating, we're really looking at expanding the help we have since our team is so small, and everyone has their own personal lives and "outside work" they have to deal with. We'll keep everyone updated on how that's progressing and announce new moderators as they're selected.

Thanks again for everyone's patience. You guys are awesome!

Cicada said:

We've estimated costs of moving to a good, dedicated server and unless an exorbitant amount of money is able to be raised every year, it doesn't look very feasible. The banners and links on the site generate barely enough to keep the site self-sustaining on what little revenue that _is_ generated via these methods, and currently our server costs are very miniscule compared to what we'd need to move to a dedicated server (think 15-20x as much as they are currently).

We're trying to see what other options are available to get the site stable since we've grown exponentially since the beginning back in 2010, but with the amount of traffic we have now, the options are getting limited :sad:

While it looks like the mods/admins aren't around (we dont post as much in the public forums), we do work "behind the scenes" through PM's and mod/admin-only forums trying to sort out the multitude of trade issues everyone has been having lately. I can relate to the frustration with delays in reply or site access, because when even _we_ can't get to the site, it means we cant fix anything or help anyone out. With regard to the moderating, we're really looking at expanding the help we have since our team is so small, and everyone has their own personal lives and "outside work" they have to deal with. We'll keep everyone updated on how that's progressing and announce new moderators as they're selected.

Thanks again for everyone's patience. You guys are awesome!

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Thanks for the explanation and hopefully we can all get you guys the money you so desperately need to upgrade this wonderful site that we all need...

Here is how I see this whole thing...
Option 1 is for those that have decent pins they are willing to let go of to help DPF in a donation. GRAIL is subjective. I feel what Moe is looking for here are the "main" prizes for games. The pins that will bring people in
to play.

Option 2 is for those that want to donate but don't have the great pins that some others may have. They will be the contributors of the "consolation" prizes in a game. Maybe not the best pins but at least you got something for your entry to try to win the "big" one.

Option 3. Some may feel that while they are willing to donate they like to play the games and would like the chance to win something while still donating to DPF. Some will rationalize this as entering with an opportunity to win something in return verses just donating pins to the cause. While it is asked that the pin be something you would not mind receiving if you paid $15 for a game as a prize it is also really subjective. Since the winner is by vote anyone can win, any pin can win. The option was only to get some OK pins for Goofy_Moe to work his magic with.

All three of these options are for the members of DPF that have more pins than expendable cash. I know I fall under this category. While I am embracing the opportunity to help DPF if it were only accepting cash donations I would not be able to participate. In the first three options it should be all inclusive for those that have pins but are tight on money. For those that have more available cash than pins or simply would rather not donate their pins they will be able to donate cash. Thus the Option 4, the monetary donation.

ANY donation is a great donation. Any donation will help DPF. Personally I applaud anyone that is willing to donate in anyway to help improve the site. No one is asking anyone to donate in any way that is uncomfortable to them. We are just offering everyone options for the way that best fits them. A way for EVERYONE to have the opportunity to donate in one way or the other if they so choose. We all love this site and the people we have met here whether that be in person or just on line. There are many of you that I have gotten to know a little through chat or auctions or games and you are all important to me. I have this site to thank for that. I appreciate this site for that. I want to help this site because of all of you! Because this site is special, the people are special and the things we accomplish with and for one another is incredible. I don't want to lose that. I want to improve that. I hope you all feel the same way. *Stepping down from my soapbox now....

Got another few pins in order to give another quick update later tonight of the final pins I've received (from the PM I have received, I believe I have received all submissions I'm currently aware about and let's just say they ended VERY nicely ;D). Once again, if I haven't PM'd you of the pins I've received then I still haven't received them so please PM me ASAP so we can figure out where they might be

Here are all the new pins I have received up to date since the last photos I updated (if you would like to see all the other pins I posted...they are in one of the older posts) ^_^



BTW, that Beast Stained Glass pin is LE100 with me holding the only one that is up for trade at the moment (if it is even up for trade anymore ^_^)

Also, this is the Pluto's Christmas Tree PODM below:



Finally, I received these 2 today hence why they are in their own photo since I didn't want to redo the last one and I have to say, I am taken aback at how beautiful these pins are O_O Perhaps it's because I'm a Stitch collector and because me and my mom scuba dive, but I have to compete for the Stitch one on the left...so nobody else compete, you hear me!!! jkjkjk But in all seriousness, I really want that Stitch pin on the left (the right one too, but if I HAD to choose one)